XX 19 9 TUNDRY POND, DOGMERSFIELD Exposed parkland lake with picnic tables. Head S from Domersfield and 500m past ,, the church find footpath on R, through white garden gates of Double Bridge Fm (RG27 8TB). Or E of Basingstocke Canal. 10 mins, 51.2656, -0.8900 Uh 10 SHERFIELD-ON-LODDON Mill pool in meadows behind pub. Accessible from The Longbridge Mill pub ,, (RG27 0DL, 01256 883483) or the road bridge. 5 mins, 51.3189, -1.0199 aq
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ruins & ancient ways 11 ODIHAM RUINED CASTLE One of three castles built by King John in the early 13th century. Pleasant walk along the canal to get there. Crystal-clear spring waters emerge from the old tunnel with ethereal hues. Very clean and good for swimming, but cold. ¾ mile walk NE along the Basingstoke ,, Canal from the Fox & Goose, Greywell (RG29 1BY, 01256 702062). 15 mins, 51.2613, -0.9616 z
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Hampshire Downs
12 SILCHESTER ROMAN CITY Originally the site of an important Iron Age settlement, Silchester was later taken over by the Romans and remains one of the bestpreserved Roman towns in Britain. Head S from the Red Lion in Mortimer ,, West End (RG7 2HU) for ½ mile and look for signpost for Silchester on L (English Heritage, free). Short signposted walk from car park (closes 7pm in summer). 2 mins, 51.3579, -1.0828 7k 13 THE HARROWAY AT ‘EFRAFA’ The oldest road in Britain, this 6,000-yearold Neolithic trackway runs from Dorset to Surrey. A crossing of paths at this North Hampshire point is said to be the inspiration for Efrafa, the fictional barracks of the militaristic warren run by the dictator rabbit General Woundwort, in Richard Adams’ Watership Down. Crosses B3051/Kingsclere road ½ mile ,, N from Overton train station (RG25 3JG). Or from Whitchurch train station take the Newbury Road N and then first R. Then 2nd R after a mile to find the trackway. 15 mins, 51.2543, -1.2877 zb